Egyptian security troops targeted by Islamic militants
Islamic militants unleashed a suicide car bomb and heavy gunfire on an Egyptian military checkpoint in northeastern Sinai Peninsula yesterday, leaving ten security troops including a special forces colonel dead and wounding at least 23, authorities said.
The officials said the blitz attack began when a suicide car bomber rammed his vehicle into a checkpoint at a military compound in the southern Rafah village of El-barth, followed by heavy gunfire from dozens of masked militants on foot.
The dead included a high ranking special forces officer, Col. Ahmed el-mansi, and at least 26 others were wounded in the attack. Ambulance sirens were heard from a distance as they rushed to the site. On his official Facebook page, Army spokesman Tamer elrifai confirmed the attack and said that 26 army personnel were killed or injured in the attack, without providing a breakdown. He also said the army foiled attacks targeting a number of other checkpoints in southern Rafah and that 40 militants were killed.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Egypt in recent years has been battling a stepped-up insurgency in northern Sinai, mainly by militants from an Islamic State group affiliate.
Security officials said the militants arrived at the site of the checkpoint - located in a remote, deserted area - in some 24 Land Cruiser SUVS. The militants opened fire on the soldiers with machine guns for nearly half an hour, they said. The force at the compound is estimated at 60 troops.
After the attack, the militants looted the checkpoint, taking weapons and ammunition. It was unclear if they took over armoured vehiclesaswell. Witnessessaid that they saw Apache helicopters carrying out airstrikes across Rafah after the attack.
The next army compound is an hour’s drive, which left the soldiers with no support except for local, armed tribesmen from Tarabeen who have their own small checkpoints nearby.
The area of the attack is an IS stronghold and the location of fierce battles in the spring between the tribesmen and militants.
Officials told the AP that some senior officers have voiced opposition to the location of the checkpoint, arguing that it has no real cover. Whilefailingtoseize territories, IS militants in Sinai have a strong presence in western and southern Rafah.
newdeskts@scotsman.com